The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has announced that the country's men's national team will live and train in Austin, Texas, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This selection follows an agreement between Austin FC and FIFA, positioning the city as a key hub despite not hosting matches. The team, known as the Green Falcons, will base there between their group-stage games.
Austin, Texas, will serve as the training and living base for Saudi Arabia's men's national team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced on Thursday through Austin FC. The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, begins in June 2026, with matches spread across cities including Dallas and Houston in Texas.
The Green Falcons will use Austin as their home between group-stage fixtures: a match against Uruguay on June 15 in Miami, Spain on June 21 in Atlanta, and Cape Verde on June 26 in Houston. SAFF selected Austin from a list of FIFA-approved training sites after Austin FC entered a hosting agreement that allowed FIFA to assign a national team to the city.
This marks the second visit by SAFF to Austin. The team previously traveled there in June 2025 for a CONCACAF Gold Cup match against the United States men's national team at Q2 Stadium.
Saudi Arabia boasts a strong soccer history, having won the AFC Asian Cup three times and qualified for seven of the last nine FIFA World Cups. They famously upset eventual champion Argentina in the 2022 tournament's group stage.
Local fans will have an opportunity to view the FIFA World Cup trophy in April 2026 at Parmer Field at St. David’s Performance Center, the home of Austin FC II, as part of its nationwide tour.
